first time posting - blocked skimmer pipes

[Cbw2121]

I saw a really neat video on youtube the other day on trouble shooting and repairing clogged skimmer lines...go to youtube search "clogged skimmer lines video" I hope it helps

[PoolDoc]

If it was THIS one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Q5EawYkm8
don't do that, except as a last resort -- you can shatter PVC lines that way!

This one is OK,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiL-pFEhWf4
but only applies to a specific set of circumstances. Ironically, the sort of problem here, is just the sort of situation that can lead to a shattered pipe using the techniques in the first video!

[TheGoose]

I had flex PVC and mine were totally blocked. They were collapsed. The guys I hired were able to dig under the deck/skimmer and replace them with regular PVC.

The original main drain is still flex. I think what makes the skimmers go bad is putting chlorine pucks directly in the skimmer basket it eats away on the material over time. Wish I still had the piece that came out-looked like a monster from a sci-fi movie.

Can't do anything about the main drain I suppose. Right now it's still functional.

FYI I paid about $450/skimmer. The "pool" co's were quoting $1,000/skimmer.

I had to run my pool with no skimmers for about 5 years until I got this fixed. It made all the difference in the world. Much easier to maintain.

[PoolDoc]

Yea. Flex pipe should *NEVER* be placed under ground. It was always a seriously bad idea.

[TheGoose]

Can anything be done when my main drain collapses? Or do I just consider it dead and go to skimmers only?

Sometimes I circulate on "Both". Seems like it helps clean the bottom of the pool. Also I use the main drain when I empty the pool for cleaning etc.

[PoolDoc]

Hire a miner?

[TheGoose]

LOL. That's the only thing I can see to do. Fingers crossed I won't have to deal with that problem.